the Garden Wall in Glacier National Park in Montana
medicine river in Glacier National Park in Montana
a moose in Glacier National Park in Montana
Alpine Lake in Glacier National Park in Montana
wildflowers in Glacier National Park in Montana
Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park in Montana
a forest in Glacier National Park in Montana
a big horned sheep in Glacier National Park in Montana
a full moon over Saint Mary's Lake in Glacier National Park in Montana
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The sun rises on Garden Wall, a rock spine shaped by Ice Age glaciers, in Glacier National Park.
Photograph by KEITH LADZINSKI, Nat Geo Image Collection

Everything to know about Glacier National Park

Some of the most impressive scenery in North America straddles the border of the United States and Canada.

ByJoe Yogerst
August 16, 2019
8 min read

“Crown of the Continent” is an apt nickname for this pair of parks, which feature some of the most impressive mountain scenery in North America. Joined together since 1932 as the world’s first international peace park, Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta offer a contiguous high-country wonderland of rock, ice, water, and wood.

Glacier, a beloved park in northwestern Montana, takes its name from the many glaciers and glacial forces that shaped its rugged topography over two million years. While the park is still home to more than a dozen glaciers, even more impressive are the massive U-shaped valleys and hulking granite peaks carved by long-ago ice flows.

Fast facts

  • Established: 1910
  • Size: 1,013,322 acres
  • Annual Visitors: 3.3 million
  • Visitor Centers: Apgar, St. Mary, Logan Pass
  • Entrance Fees: $30 per vehicle, $15 per person
  • Website: nps.gov/glac

Can’t-miss experiences

Nobody leaves the park without driving at least a section of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Constructed during the Great Depression by Civilian Conservation Corps workers, the 50-mile route could easily double as a a rollercoaster ride up and over the Continental Divide. Whether you start from Lake McDonald in the west or Lake St. Mary in the east, your hands will surely be sweaty by the time you finish.

Among the many landmarks along Going-to-the-Sun Road are Avalanche Creek with its ancient hemlock-cedar forest, a wicked switchback called the Loop, a roadside Weeping Wall, and the overlook for big Jackson Glacier. The Continental Divide splits the road at the 6,646-foot-high Logan Pass, where a visitor center and bookstore provide shelter from the chilly highland weather.

Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and marmots inhabit the rocky slopes around Logan Pass, which is also a hub for several great hikes, including the family-friendly Animal Super Heroes Trail and the 1.5-mile nature trail to Hidden Lake. The western end of Lake St. Mary, where trails lead to three splendid waterfalls, is another great place to hike.

Apgar Village anchors the western end of the road with its lakeside hotels, restaurants, shops, and visitor center. During summer, scenic cruises run along Lake McDonald; kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and paddleboats are also available for rent. Camas Road heads north from the village to lakeshore access at Rocky Point and a bridge over the North Fork Flathead River that provides a great perch for snapping scenic shots of the front range. A rough gravel road continues into the park’s rarely visited North Fork Area and super-secluded camping spots beside Kintla Lake and Bowman Lake.

Highway 2 loops around the south end of Glacier, flitting in and out between the park and two national forests (Flathead and Lewis and Clark). About halfway along is Goat Lick Overlook, where you can gaze across the valley at a lofty railroad trellis and possibly spot Rocky Mountain goats clinging to the cliffs.

Tours and bears

Glacier’s east side is bounded by the Blackfeet Nation and reservation towns like East Glacier that cater to park visitors. Just outside East Glacier is a spectacular but lesser-known part of the park: Two Medicine, where the Blackfeet once undertook sacred rites of passage. Trails meander around three lakes and along a creek to Running Eagle Falls, which gushes through a giant stone orifice.

St. Mary lies at the eastern end of Going-to-the-Sun Road. In addition to a lodge, cabins, and several eateries, the hamlet offers another national park visitor center. Just beyond the park entrance, a large grassy area, Two Dog Flats, is a great place to look for bear or elk. Ninety-minute boat tours of St. Mary Lake depart from a floating dock at Rising Sun Campground.

Another elongated valley, Many Glaciers, tenders some of the park’s most popular hikes, including a 5.5-mile trail to the base of Grinnell Glacier, a strenuous climb up to Swiftcurrent Pass (6.6 miles), and a relatively easy jaunt to Ptarmigan Falls (2.5 miles). Scenic boat tours of Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine include a quarter-mile hike between the two. Kayaks, canoes, and rowboats are available for rent.

Two private companies run motorized tours inside the park. The legendary Red Bus Tours operates in vintage, oak-framed vehicles from the 1930s, and the Blackfeet-owned and operated Sun Tours interprets the park from an authentic Native American perspective.

Visitors should always be aware that Glacier is bear country—bruins of both the black and grizzly variety. Bear spray is essential, even on short walks. As one Glacier ranger explains, “A grizzly doesn’t care if you’re walking 10 yards or 10 miles.”

The national park is mostly shuttered in winter. But nearby Whitefish, Montana, is a hub of cold weather sports with a ski and snowboard resort ranked in the U.S. top 10 by Ski Magazine. It also plays host to a wide range of other winter fun.

Where to stay

Hotels

  • Lake McDonald Lodge: Enjoy Swiss chalet-style lodging on the lakeshore; restaurants, bar, general store, lake cruises, horseback riding. 
  • St. Mary Lodge: Experience rustic cabins and motel-style rooms at the eastern end of Going-to-the-Sun Road; restaurants, bar, general store, gas station.
  • Garden Wall Inn: This B&B is tucked inside a restored Victorian manse in downtown Whitefish; gourmet breakfast, afternoon hors d’oeuvres, evening drinks.
  • Prince of Wales Hotel: This historic Canadian national park lodge offers stunning views of lakes and mountains; restaurant, lounge, gift shop, afternoon tea

Camping

Off-season things to do

  • Make some great ski or snowboard turns on the world-class Whitefish Mountain Resort outside the park.
  • Among other winter activities in and around Whitefish are horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, dogsledding, fat biking on snowy trails, and ice climbing.
  • Glacier Adventure Guides in Whitefish offers guided snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and winter camping inside the national park.
  • CrownoftheContinent.net provides an online guide to the places and activities most recommended by locals across the Crown of the Continent region.

A version of this article originally appeared in the National Geographic book 100 Parks, 5000 Ideas.
Hike with us: National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated maps highlight the best places for hiking, camping, boating, paddling, and wildlife viewing in North America’s rugged frontiers and urban fringes. Created in partnership with local land management agencies, these expertly researched maps deliver unmatched detail and helpful information to guide experienced outdoor enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. Click here for maps of Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks.

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